94 Itf FLORIDA. 



of the gorgeousness of the result. It was not a 

 feast fit for a king merely, but a sufficient banquet 

 had all the gods been invited. There were raw 

 oysters, two kinds of fish, sheepshead boiled, and 

 channel bass baked, chicken soup, and turtle soup, 

 from turtle caught on the spot, roast wild turkey, 

 and boiled mutton, scalloped oysters, venison, and 

 wild ducks, bay snipe, potato salad, peas, tomatoes, 

 beans, and baked sweet potatoes, while for dessert 

 there was such an array of goodies, that the room 

 in my log book was in danger of running short, and 

 I could only record a few, such as fresh cake, straw- 

 berries, spiced figs, and all the preserves and spiced 

 fruits that the table would hold, closing with cheese 

 and coffee. The only wonder was, that after such 

 a dinner to which our appetites and our loyalty both 

 pressed us to do more than ample justice, anv of 

 the party survived. If you have doubts of our 

 state of minds and bodies, go on a three months' 

 cruise and wind up with such a dinner, and "you 

 will know how it is yourself." 



Of all places on the eastern shore of Florida, 

 the Indian and Banana Eivers are the most delight- 

 ful and interesting. Here, when you are once in- 

 side the bar, which, as I have said, is a little peril- 

 ous, there is room and occupation for a winter. 

 The salt water fishing is mainly near the inlet, but 

 in the tributary streams is an unlimited supply of 

 the fresh water varieties. The sailing is splendid, 

 and the climate, except for its warmth, delicious. 

 By the time the reader peruses these pages, it is 



